BookBingeInspector Rebus Books in Order
A hard-drinking, rule-breaking Edinburgh detective digs through the city's underworld to solve crimes no one else can.
Here is the complete Inspector Rebus reading order — all 25 books by Ian Rankin, in the order you should read them:
Publication order (recommended)
- Knots and Crosses(1987)
- Hide and Seek(1991)
- Tooth and Nail(1992)
- Strip Jack(1992)
- The Black Book(1993)
- Mortal Causes(1994)
- Let It Bleed(1995)
- Black and Blue(1997)
- The Hanging Garden(1998)
- Dead Souls(1999)
- Set in Darkness(2000)
- The Falls(2001)
- Resurrection Men(2002)
- A Question of Blood(2003)
- Fleshmarket Close(2004)
- The Naming of the Dead(2006)
- Exit Music(2007)
- Standing in Another Man's Grave(2012)
- Saints of the Shadow Bible(2013)
- Even Dogs in the Wild(2015)
- Rather Be the Devil(2016)
- In a House of Lies(2018)
- A Song for the Dark Times(2020)
- A Heart Full of Headstones(2022)
- Midnight and Blue(2024)
Good news: for this series, publication order and chronological order are the same — just read straight down the list.
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Get BookBingeFrequently asked questions
How many books are in the Inspector Rebus series?
There are 25 books in the Inspector Rebus series by Ian Rankin, beginning with Knots and Crosses (1987) and most recently Midnight and Blue (2024).
What is the first Inspector Rebus book?
The first book is Knots and Crosses, published in 1987. That's where new readers should start.
Should I read Inspector Rebus in publication or chronological order?
Publication and chronological order are identical for this series, so just follow the list.